Venetian blind ladder tape



July 25, 1967 D. .1. CROXEN 3,332,471

VENETIAN BLIND LADDER TAPE Filed May. 3, 1965 I N VENTOR. DONALD J'-CEOXEN 7%,)? VQWAW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,332,471 VENETIANBLIND LADDER TAPE Donald J. Croxen, 15608 Florwood Ave., Lawndale,Calif. 90260 Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,559 9 Claims. (Cl. 160178)This invention relates generally to Venetian blinds and moreparticularly to the ladder tapes on which the slats are suspended.

An object of the invention is to provide a. new and improved ladder typefor Venetian blinds which enables and facilitates the closing of theblind to position the slats thereof in overlapping and interengagementrelation so as to provide a substantially light-tight closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape embodying novelcross tapes or rungs adapted for engaging and supporting the side edgesof the slats when the main or side tapes are moved oppositely to tiltthe slats from a horizontal to an inclined, nearly Vertical position.

A further object is to provide a novel plastic cross tape which can bereadily manufactured by extrusion and subsequent cutting to size andwhich can be readily and accurately aflixed to the side tapes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blindconstruct-ion embodying cross tapes of novel configuration andconstruction embodying magnetic means for assisting in closing the slatsand holding them in a fully closed position.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and thefollowing description. Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of portions of two side tapes and two slatsof a Venetian blind with two cross tapes embodying the invention securedto the side tapes and supporting the slats, the blind being shown infully opened position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken just above the upper slat of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a central sectional elevational view of the blind portions ofFIG. 1 shown in closed position;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of one single cross tape;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail on line 5-5 of FIG.2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a doublecross tape embodying the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a modification; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of a side tape andan end portion of a cross tape, showing another modification.

More particularly describing the invention, in FIG. 1 I show a portionof a Venetian blind 11 and this includes a pair or set of side tapes 12which are suspended by conventional means so that they can be movedvertically in relatively opposite directions. The blind portion shownalso includes a plurality of vertically spaced cross tapes 14 extendingbetween the side tapes and slats 15 supported thereon. A conventionallift cord is designated 16. In the form of the invention shown in FIGS.1-5 I show relatively narrow single cross tapes and these are staggeredon the side tapes with reference to the cord 16, however the staggeredarrangement is not essential.

I may also employ a wide, double cross tape, such as shown in FIG. 6.This will be described later.

The slats 15 may be of several constructions but should in any case beprovided with marginal recesses 17 in the region of the cross tapes. Byway of example, the slats shown are convex in cross section and havecord-passing openings 18. In order to provide a construction whichfacilitates the movement of the slats to Patented July 25, 1967overlapping and interengaging relation when the side tapes are movedappropriately to close the blind, as shown in FIG. 3, I provide theaforementioned cross tapes 14 with inwardly facing slat-engagingshoulders 20 against which the recessed edges 21 of the slats arepositioned. While the cross tapes can be made in various ways in orderto provide the shoulders, -I have shown the tapes as having a cross ortransversely extending thickened section or rib 22 on the upper side ofthe tape providing the aforementioned shoulder. This shoulder may bedownwardly and outwardly inclined, or substantially vertical as shown.

Each cross tape includes a thin, flexible strip-like body 23, the ribsor thickened transverse sections 22, and end sections 24 normal to themain section which are secured to the side tapes by a suitable adhesive,cement or solvent, or they can be sewn or heat welded, depending uponthe material. In this connection I may point out that the side tapes maybe of plastic or other suitable material and that I prefer to form thecross tapes of plastic. The latter may be fabricated by extruding theplastic in a direction which is transverse of the tapes shown and thetapes subsequently cut from the extruded stock.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of magnetizedparticles 26- in the thickened portions or ribs 22 of the cross tapes.These magnetized particles assist in achieving complete closure of theblind, since they serve to magnetically attract each other when theblind is in a closed position.

In the operation of the tapes, with the slats cradled upon the crosstapes betweenthe shoulders 20 thereof, as the side tapes are manipulatedto move them oppositely to close the blinds, the recessed edges 21 atthe lower edges of the various slats are supported upon theirrespectively adjacent shoulders 20, firmly holding the slats in positionto engage and remain in engagement with each other, as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 6, I show a form of the invention in which thecross tapes are of the so-called double type, that is, they aresubstantially the same width as the side tapes. Each double cross tape,designated 30, includes main sections 31 which are separated by arelatively large opening 32 which is shown extending far enough tointerrupt ribs 33 having inwardly facing shoulders 34. However, theopening need not extend so far. The ends of the cross tape are providedwith end sections 35 normal to the main sections 31. The latter mergeinto bridging sections 35 at each end. The ribs 33 and shoulder 34 maybe the same configuration in cross section as the ribs 22 and shoulders20 and it will be apparent that the operation of a blind incorporatingthe double-type cross tapes is the same as the operation of oneincorporating the narrow or single cross tapes.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 I show two modifications of the cross tape. These aresuitable for either single or double tapes, but have been illustrated asincorporated in single tapes. Referring first to FIG. 7, the cross tape,designated 40, is shown as having a main section 41 at each end of whichis an end section 42. The latter are afiixed to the side tapes 12. Eachend section is formed to provide a fiat end surface 43 to abut the sidetape and with an upper thickened section 44 defining a shoulder 45. Thelatter serves the same purpose as the shoulders 20 previously described.

Referring now to FIG. 8, I show a modified form of cross tape,designated 50, which includes a main section 51 and end sections 52normal thereto which attach to the side tapes 12. In this form of theinvention, at each end of the main section I provide a short auxiliary.sec-

tion 53 which extends between the upper part of the end section 52 andthe main section 51 at a region spaced inwardly from the end section.This construction provides an obtuse angle 54 between the main section51 and the upper section 53 when the cross tape is disposedsubstantially horizontal. This angle decreases as the cross tape isinclined to trap and hold the recessed edge of the slat in a manner likethe shoulders 20 and 45 previously described.

Although I have illustrated and described preferred forms of myinvention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can bemade therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which isindicated by the following claims. In this connection I wish to pointout that although I prefer to utilize a shoulder near each end of thecross tape, where it is contemplated that a blind shall only completelyclose in one direction, I may employ tapes having shoulders near one endonly in which case the slats would only have to be recessed at one edge.

I claim:

1. In a Venetian blind construction, side tapes adapted to be supportedfrom above, slats supported in vertically spaced relation between theside tapes, cross tapes for supporting the slats connected at theiropposite ends to the respective side tapes, said cross tapes each beingformed to provide a pair of inwardly facing shoulders rising above theupper surface of the tape therebetween and extending transverselythereof, said shoulders being located adjacent but spaced inwardly fromsaid side tapes, respectively, said slats having marginal recesses attheir side edges whereby to provide a recessed edge at each side forengagement with the respective shoulders of the cross tape on which theslat is supported.

2. The Venetian blind construction set forth in claim 1 in which saidcross tapes are provided with magnetized material in the regions of saidshoulders.

3. The Venetian blind construction set forth in claim 1 in which saidcross tapes are each provided with a pair of thickened portions definingsaid shoulders.

4. The Venetian blind construction set forth in claim 1 in which saidcross tapes are provided with a centrally disposed opening extendinglongitudinally of the cross tape.

5. A cross tape for a Venetian blind, comprising an elongated, thinflexible body strip of material, end sections on said body strip, saidbody strip being formed to provide an inwardly facing shoulder extendingtransversely thereof above the upper surface thereof, said shoulderbeing positioned adjacent but spaced inwardly of one of said endsections and a substantial distance outwardly of the center of the bodystrip.

6. A cross tape for a Venetian blind, comprising an elongated, thinflexible body strip of material, end sections on said body strip, saidbody strip being formed to provide a pair of inwardly facing shouldersextending transversely thereof above the upper surface, said shouldersbeing positioned adjacent but spaced inwardly of said end sections,respectively, and a substantial distance outwardly of the center of thebody strip.

7. A cross tape for a Venetian blind, comprising a thin, flexible body,said body having a pair of main sections in parallel laterally spacedrelation and a transverse bridging section connecting the same at eachend thereof, an end section on each bridging section adapted to befastened to the side tapes of a blind, said main sections each beingformed to provide a pair of inwardly facing shoulders extendingtransversely thereof above the upper surface and positioned near theouter ends of said main sections a substantial distance outwardly of thecenter thereof.

8. In a Venetian blind construction, side tapes adapted to be supportedfrom above, slats supported in vertically spaced relation between theside tapes, cross tapes for supporting the slats connected at theiropposite ends to the respective side tapes, said cross tapes each beingformed to provide an inwardly facing shoulder rising above the uppersurface of the tape inwardly thereof and extending transversely thereof,said shoulder being located adjacent but spaced inwardly from one ofsaid side tapes, said slats having a marginal recess at one side edgewhereby to provide a recessed edge for engagement with the shoulder ofthe cross tape on which the slat is supported.

9. A cross tape for a Venetian blind, comprising an elongated flexiblebody strip of material, end sections on said body strip and normalthereto, and at least one auxiliary section extending from the upper endof one end section to a region of the body strip adjacent but spacedinwardly of the end section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, PrimaryExaminer. nannison R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

I M.:CAUN, Assistant Examiner.

8. IN A VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION, SIDE TAPES ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTEDFROM ABOVE, SLATS SUPPORTED IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION BETWEEN THESIDE TAPES, CROSS TAPES FOR SUPPORTING THE SLATS CONNECTED AT THEIROPPOSITE ENDS TO THE RESPECTIVE SIDE TAPES, SAID CROSS TAPES EACH BEINGFORMED TO PROVIDE AN INWARDLY FACING SHOULDER RISING ABOVE THE UPPERSURFACE OF THE TAPE INWARDLY THEREOF AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF,SAID SHOULDER BEING LOCATED ADJACENT BUT SPACED INWARDLY FROM ONE OFSAID SIDE TAPES, SAID SLATS HAVING INWARDLY FROM ONE OF SAID SIDE EDGEWHEREBY TO PROVIDE A RECESSED EDGE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOULDER OFTHE CROSS TAPE ON WHICH THE SLAT IS SUPPORTED.